White House Seeks Help Reclaiming Spectrum

In the treasure hunt that is the search for more spectrum, the National Telecommunications & Information Administration has discovered something of a mother lode: Namely, over 400 MHz of spectrum now in government hands that could potentially be freed up. The question is, how?

The White House is now pushing a method forward in a move that could appease hungry cable operators and help the cause of broadcasters. The White House wants input on which, or which combination, of at least nine different approaches will work to incentivize, or require, federal spectrum users -- the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense among them -- to give up spectrum for wireless broadband. Cable operators are among those pushing for more of it, including through a newly created coalition, WiFi Forward, which wants to goose the government effort to free up the 400 MHz the NTIA has identified. Broadcasters will benefit as well, since the more spectrum the government can get from its own, the less pressure there is -- or should be -- to get it from broadcasters.